Washing machine, including control valve



July 29, 1952 F. J. cozzoLl 2,604,896

WASHING MACHINE, INCLUDING CONTROL VALVE Filed April 3, 1947 a 32 I 35 52 INVENTOR Eef! ze Il e ze f/Mggd Ma/fw ATTO R N EY annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a valve constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of portions of a washing machine showing the valve in open position and its relation to a container carrier tray.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of a group of valves in relation to a series of intermittently 3 of the drawings and the parts of the washing` machine illustrated, it is to be understood that such disclosed portions do not constitute the -entire washing machine but only so muchV of the machine as will give one an understandingof how the valve of this invention .is constructed and functions. For a more complete disclosure of a Washing machine reference may be had to my prior Patents #2,381,436, #2,417,633, and #2,417,634. For the present purposes it is believed suicient to explain that ythe washing machine comprises a series of container carriers ID that are securely fastened to two bands of links 'I=I. The bands of links form endless chains that track spaced sprocket wheels I2 located at each end of the machine. The distance intervening the axes of the sprocket wheels afford upper andv lower horizontal runs (only the upper run is shown in Fig. 3) for the carriers I0. and it is on the upper horizontal run of the machine that the processing of the containers is caused to occur. In the fragmentary view Fig. 2, side tracks I3 and I4 are illustrated which support the container carriers and maintain them in alignment as they progress intermittently from station to station. The side tracks I3 and I4 are secured at their respective ends to sprocket wheel bearing members I5 (only one shown) which in turn are firmly fastened to side frame members I6 (but one shown). The term station, as herein used, refers to one processing cycle of which butV four are represented in Fig. 3. In normal operation, however, the respective carriers are successively indexed -through the various stations, with adequate dwell period afforded at each station in which to effect the processing operation. The carrier indexing mechanism may be of the character disclosed in my aforesaid patents or equivalent mechanism, and in the interests of clarity is not repeated herein.

As illustrated in the drawings hereof, each of the container carriers I0 is provided with a series of tubular jets or supports I 'I over which the containers a to be washed are placed. The lower ends of the supports communicate with an openended conduit I8 formed in Ithe base o-f the carrier. The open end I9 of the conduit I8 is conically recessed and forms the female portion of a separable coupling later to be described.

The control valves of the present invention are indicated generally at 20. These valves control the ow of the process fluids to the jets and also form the male portions of the couplings to which reference was just made. In the present machine the valves are -arranged coaxially with the conical seats I9 of the container carriers. Figi illustrates in cross-section the construction lof the improved Valve, which includes a' casing 2|. a headed valve plunger '22, a cap member 23 and a compression spring 24 that operates between the cap andthe headed end of the valve stem.

The valve casing is formed with a pressure charn-` portion.

loer 2Ia which is capped at one end by the cap 23, and provided at its other end with a valve seat 2Ib, preferably tapered. The valve seat merges into a smaller diametered reamed bore 2Ic. The valve member 22, is formed with a head end 22a, that is smaller in diameter than the pressure chamber, and a stem portion 22h, the latter being formed closely but slidingly to fit the reamed bore -2I`c in the casing. The head end 22a of the piston operates in the enlarged chamber 2Ia of the casing and preferably is given a somewhat spherical shape on the side 22e facing the stem The shaped end 22o normally seats against the valve seat 2lb in the casing and forms therewith a ring seal. If desired, the head end may be conically shaped, attened or otherwise contoured and the seat 2lb complementally shaped to act as a valve.

The stem portion 22h of the valve plunger is formed with a central conduit 22d leading from its outer end to a point adjacent the head portion, whereronefor more cross ports 22e extend fro'm-` the axial conduit to the surface of the stem. The position of the crossports axially of the stem is preferably such that when the valve stem is extended its maximum distance. the cross ports 22e are completely bridged by the surrounding wall of the bore 2 I c in the casing, and when the valve stem is retracted (valve open Vposition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2) the cross ports 22e are in open communication with the chamber 2Ia. In the latter position, fluid lead in-to the chamber 2Ia is free to pass around the head end of the valve plunger, past the seat 22o-ZIT), through cross ports 22e, and out ythe axial port 22d to the point of use. y

In the present embodiment, the forward end of the valve plunger 22 is adapted to be-coupled periodically -to the respective container carriers as the latter are moved intermittently from station to station, and tothat end, the extreme outer end of the plunger is rounded off, as at 22j,

in a manner effective to seat in the conical recesses I9 of the respective carriers. When the valve plunger is firmly seated as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a fluid tight connection is formed between the valve and an associated carrier and .the fluid passing the valve. is caused to enter the conduit I8 and be discharged through the supports I1 tothe interiors of the containers carried thereby.

. The coupling so formed, is maintained by virtue of the presence of the compression spring 24 interposed between the head end 22a. of the valve plunger and the cap 23,which spring is tensioned to urge the plunger always outwardly relative to the casing. Processing fluid is caused to enter the chamber 2 la through a conduit 25 that is threaded at one end into thecap 23. The other end of the conduit 25 is `connected with a semi-rigid tube 2E that is connected to a supply source of processing medium.

Fig. 2 of the drawings illustrates the relation of the valve as a whole to one of the carriers at one of the processing stations. A valve guide and supporting bar 21, secured to the machine structure,l is provided to maintain that relation. The bar 2-'I is formed with a series of recesses 28, each of which is slightly larger than the external diameterof the valve casing 2I. The

,control valves move axially within the recesses andthe extra clearances provided, allows for a slight sideways' iioat of the valves whereby a good seal is obtained between the valve plungers and container carriers notwithstanding slight escasas irregularities lor inevitable elongation and contraction of the machine elements `incident :to

variations in temperature.

Y nAny. suitable means'may vbe provided' to effect Y.actuation of the valve, but in .the presentiinstance itis. preferred .to actuate `the .valves inv unison `by a series `of :bifurcated'levers 30 that :are .ar-

ranged to .straddle the respective conduits 25 and fbearagainstthe valvecaps 23. '.The levers :3Diare lockedpupon a :rock shaft 3| that; is jour- Vnaledein bearingsY v32 A'provided by the fmachine frame.Y Medially .of-thevarious actuating levers, `a :follOWer :lever 33;is;secured, whichllever 33 carries `a vroller :34 atits outerend. 'The Aroller .34.restsfatop a slide;bar 35 that is guided in a vbearing,block 36 alsosupported Aby the machine frame, The lower end of the-slide bar 35 carries a roller 31 arranged totrack Va cam38 vmounted upon-a continuously 'rotating cam shaft 39. The

cam 38 is contoured `to raise andlower the. slide ,ment of the casing in a plunger overtaking direction effects an opening of the valve .at the zones 2lb and 22e thereof. The vreverse movement of the valve is accomplished preferably by k one or more tension springs 40 that are connected between the main frame and the free ends of supplementary levers dlvsecured upon the rock shaft 3l. The levers 30 and 33 and 4| are arkranged at approximately right angles so that upward and downward movement of the levers 33 and 4l affect a shifting of the valves 20 horizontally. To effect the withdrawing of the valves, each supply conduit is provided with a collar vmember'1l2 against which theopposite sides of V the levers 30 react when the low portion `38h of 'the cam 38 arrives'under the slide bar v35. During norma-1 operation, Vthe valves vmove in and out in synchronism with the machine movements, and the semi-rigid process tubes 26 eX slightly during such operations.

The operation of one of the valves is as follows: a container carrier is moved into position aligned with the valve (see Fig. 3) .and after coming to rest in that position, the valve assembly is bodily advanced until the end of the plunger 22 is seated in the cone I9 of the associated carrier. Thereafter a further advancing movement of the casing v2| causes relative endwise movement to occur between the valve plunger and its casing and an opening of the valve at the zones 22o and 22e is brought about. Processing fluid from the line 26 is thus caused to pass through the assembly and to be injected into the interiors of the containers, as previously described. After the elapse of a given period of washing, the continued rotation of the main cam shaft 39, allows the slide to drop and the rock shaft 3l is oscillated in the reverse direction and the valve assembly is withdrawn. The initial withdrawing action eiects first a closing of the valve at the two zones 22e and 22e and then an uncoupling of the valve stem from its seat in the container carrier. The spring 24 in each valve, augmented by the supply fluid pressure, effects the valve closing with the result that the process fluids are cut off and stopped before uncoupling occurs. All of the valve assemblies, it will be understood, perform in a similar manner.

The cam action of the instant embodiment .4,6 fof. the. :invention is. such that the. .valve stems vare @completely withdrawn, from theirn seats :in the srespective- .carriers and: movesslightly away .therefromibefore the. carriers areV advanced, in `the direction Yofi'the, arrow ./Fig. 3, to itheneXt station.. .As many control valveszare provided; as there.; are fwashing stations, and each l may con- 'troll a different processing fluidas the nature .andL- sequenceof steps in the washing method-may Ypresc-rib eand `,the valvesf constructed asf-disclOSedherein,-togetherfwith .their somewhat free seating mounting vhavebeen found well. adapted ztoicontroha widerange o fagents and -eifectively .t0 zcouple and uncouple andto start andto --seal off the 'flow sequentially in a leakless manner. Moreover, with the valve of the presentA inventionrthe pressure exerted in. causinglthe valve to openv reacts 4through thespring in .the pressurechamber'and'lin consequence sturdy actuating mechanismV may be Iemployed without danger of producing a harmful overtravl'of the. coupling end of the .valve into .the seat in the container carrier. vSuch a valve, itlwill be seenisdself compensatingin anaxial direction `as ,well 1,-. as laterally whereby repeated couplings tothef container carriers maybe effected regardless of minor ,variations or irregularities, however cau'sed, in their positioning. Also, itgis to benoted A,that the pressure required to veffect the coupling and the opening of the 'valve during V `the dwell period of the carriers is borne' by the thefcontaners directly;Y t

Without'further analysis, theforegoing will so fully reveal the Vgist of ',.this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizationsjby retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In combination with a. washing machine adapted to wash containers supported upon carriers movable intermittently and successively through a washing station .and in which each of the carriers is provided with a manifold for processing liquid and processing nozzles in communication with the manifold, la reciprocable control valve assembly at the washing station adjacent the carriers and normally positioned out of the path of movement of the carriers, said assembly comprising a casing member rmounted for bodily reciprocatory movement selectively into and out of the path of movement of the carriers and a valve element carried by the reciprocatory c-asing and as to which the casing is constructed and arranged for lmovement'. also relatively thereto, and said valve element having a hollow stem portion projecting from the casing and a head portion within the casing adapted on movement of the casing relative to the valve element to perform a valving function, and power means operatively engaging the valve casing operable during a periodof dwell of theicarrers toshift the said casing of the valve and its said stem portion bodily toward the carrier to effect ian abutting engagement of the hollow stem portion ofthe valve element with theimanifold in aselected carrier and to shift the valve casing alonea further distance in an overtaking direction on the valve stem element to effect an opening of the valve to uid now through the valve-stem to the manifold of the carrier, means operative to shift the casing of the valve in thev opposite direction on the stem element whereby to close the' valve and thereafter to move the casing and the valve element bodily away from the carrier to effect a disconnection and to permit the cyclically movable` carrier to pass, and relatively stationary guide means associated with the valve assembly for maintaining the assembly in substantial'coaxial alignment' with the manifold in a related carrier when the latter is at rest at the washing station; I. f." l

2. In combination with a washing machine adapted to wash containers supported upon carriers moveabley intermittentlyandV successively `operatively engaging lthe valve casings operable ,during 'a period of dwell'of the `carriers to shift the said casings and their `respective stem portions bodilyy towardthe carriers toteifect an abutting engagement ofthelhollowstem portions of thervalve elements With the. manifolds of associatedcarriers andato shift the valve c-asings alone a further distance in an overtaking Adirection on their.' valve stems VAelements to effect' an opening of l -the valves to fluidzow through the valvestems tioned out of the path of movement of the cary le of this patent:

to-thegmanifold's 'of the carriers, means operative to'shift vthe .casings "of the'valves` in the opposite directionwhereby to close the valves 'and there'- after to shift the'casings and the valve elements bodily away from the Acarriers to eiect disconnection and to permit 'thecyclically movable carriers to Vpass tothe next station, and relatively stationary guide means associated with each valve for independently 'maintaining the Arespective valve assemblies in substantial coaxial alignment with the'manifolds ofthe `related carriers when the latter :are at rest at'the washing stations.

3. The combination of claim 2 in 'which the relatively stationary guide means associated with the respective -valve assemblies provides for limited lateral fio'at'of each valve assembly to render the latter self-aligning during the movement-of the respective assemblies into operative position in relation to the carriers.

` FRANK J. COZZOLI;

REFERENCES CITED Thefllowing references are .of record in the UNrrED .STATES PATENTS'.

Number Name' Date 215,556 VSrllealli'e-Q. Feb. 27, 1894 995,861 l Gleason June 20, 1911 2,379,789 COZZl V July, 1945 2,417,633 'cozzo11" j l Mar. 18, '1947 

